It is said that when Xerxes, King of Persia, reviewed his magnificent and enormous army before starting for Greece, he wept at the thought of slaughter about to take place. Of all this multitude, who shall say how many will return? Emerson, in his English Traits, chap. iv., speaks of the Emperor Charlemagne viewing the fleet of the Norsemen in the Mediterranean Sea with tears in his eyes, and adds, There was reason for these Xerxes tears.

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Xerxes wept at the prospective loss he expected to suffer in the invasion prepared, but Charlemagne wept at the prospective disruption of his kingdom by the hardy Norsemen.